Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has appealed a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles. The lawsuit found that Meta designed its platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being.

Background of the Case

The case centered on a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles. The jury found that negligence by both Meta and Google-owned YouTube, which was also a defendant in the case, was a substantial factor in causing harm to the young woman.

The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Meta and Google had each filed post-trial motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial, which were denied by the trial judge.

Implications of the Verdict

The verdict in this case came during a time of legal woes for Meta. A jury in New Mexico returned a verdict finding that Meta’s platforms harm children’s mental health and safety just one day before the California jury reached its decision.

Meta has said the company disagrees with the verdict and will also appeal in that case. The outcome of this case could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.